EIGHTEENTH century Austrian classical composer Haydn would have been delighted if he had a chance to hear his sonata played by Ronald Lee Hak-king.
The 13-year-old recently won top prize in the Senior Piano Solo Section (Piano 7th Grade)in the 45th Hongkong Schools Music Festival, beating 49 other contestants.
Hak-king's performance showed ''a real sense of Haydn's style'', according to adjudicator Mr Christopher Headington.
He was impressed by Hak-king's display of wit, authority, flexibility, dynamics, texture and phrasing.
''My favourite musician is Haydn himself,'' Hak-king told Young Post afterwards. So it was a happy and lucky co-incidence that the composer's work, first movement from Sonata in E Minor, was set as the test piece.
But it was not an easy win. The difference of just one mark determined the top three winners. Hak-king got 87 while two first runners-up came up with 86, followed tightly by another two second runners-up with 85 marks.
When the result was announced, Hak-king was startled and slightly jolted in his chair.
